UNC Football: How about that second half performance!

The UNC football program put together a strong second-half performance to help hold off No. 25-ranked Miami on Saturday night in Chapel Hill. 

After two-quarters of play, things didn’t look too good for the UNC football program.

For the first time all season, Mack Brown’s team trailed at the half, and it wasn’t that they were totally outplayed. In fact, they hurt themselves, as 97 yards of penalties tallied up, which ultimately hurt them on both sides of the ball.

With a chance to turn things around, the Tar Heels did just that, as a dominating second half propelled North Carolina to a huge ACC victory on Saturday night.

North Carolina scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter, as Devontez ‘Tez’ Walker found the end zone twice in that span. Walker ended the night with three total touchdowns and 132 yards receiving, joining former UNC football star Hakeem Nicks as the only Tar Heels to ever have 130+ receiving yards in a game against a top-25 foe.

Walker wasn’t the only star, as runningback Omarion Hampton rushed for 197 yards on the night. Coming into this game, the Hurricanes’ defense did not allow any of its previous opponents to rush for over 100 yards; meanwhile, the Tar Heels had their way on the ground, totaling 235 rushing yards.

Miami’s front seven got a lot of pressure on Drake Maye, but he still finished the night with four passing touchdowns and 273 yards through the air. He wasn’t perfect, but he made the throws when the Tar Heels needed them the most.

Defensively, the Tar Heels had some hiccups, especially with regard to penalties, but overall found a way to make life difficult for Tyler Van Dyke and Miami’s offense. North Carolina’s defense forced four turnovers, three of which were major turning points in this game.

The first half didn’t go as the Tar Heels hoped, as the lack of discipline kept hurting them on both sides of the ball. Although the penalties continued into the second half (to put it into perspective, they almost set a program record for penalty yards in a single game), the UNC football program found a way to get the job done, as this will go down as a statement type of victory for a team who now seems to be in a rather good spot heading deeper into conference play.

For the first time ever, the Tar Heels scored 40+ points in each of its first three ACC contests. This team continues to make UNC football history, and you have to start wondering just how far this team could go, given the way they’ve played through their first six games.

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